1989 Michigan Wolverines football team

The 1989 Michigan Wolverines football team was an American football team that represented the University of Michigan as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its 21st and final season under head coach Bo Schembechler, the team compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Big Ten championship, lost to USC in the 1990 Rose Bowl, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 184, and was ranked No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, in the final AP and UPI polls.[1][2]

1989 Michigan Wolverines football
Big Ten champion
Rose Bowl, L 10–17 vs. USC
Conference	Big Ten Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 8
AP	No. 7
1989 record	10–2 (8–0 Big Ten)
Head coach	Bo Schembechler (21st season)
Offensive coordinator	Gary Moeller (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Lloyd Carr (3rd season)
MVP	Tony Boles
Captains	J. J. Grant Derrick Walker
Home stadium	Michigan Stadium (Capacity: 101,701)

1989 Big Ten Conference football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 7 Michigan $	8	–	0	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 10 Illinois	7	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
No. 16 Michigan State	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
No. 24 Ohio State	6	–	2	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Minnesota	4	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
Indiana	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Iowa	3	–	5	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
Purdue	2	–	6	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Wisconsin	1	–	7	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
Northwestern	0	–	8	–	0			0	–	11	–	0
$ – Conference champion Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included quarterback Michael Taylor with 1,081 passing yards, tailback Tony Boles with 839 rushing yards, and split end Greg McMurtry with 711 receiving yards, and placekicker J.D. Carlson with 73 points scored.[3]

Defensive back Tripp Welborne was a consensus first-team selection to the 1989 All-America college football team. Six Michigan players received first-team honors on the 1989 All-Big Ten Conference football team.

Season

The Wolverines lost their season opener to Notre Dame but won ten consecutive games to finish the regular season. Highlights of the winning streak included the defeat of Minnesota by 34 points for the Little Brown Jug and a victory over Ohio State in their home finale.

The team leaders included running back Tony Boles, who rushed for 839 yards, and Michael Taylor, who threw for 1,081 yards. Greg McMurtry was the Wolverine's leading receiver with 41 catches for 711 yards. Schembechler retired after the Rose Bowl, which the Wolverines lost to USC by a touchdown.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 16	3:30 p.m.	No. 1 Notre Dame*	No. 2	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	ABC	L 19–24	105,912
September 23	8:00 p.m.	at No. 24 UCLA*	No. 5	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA	ABC	W 24–23	71,797
September 30	1:00 p.m.	Maryland*	No. 6	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI		W 41–21	104,872
October 7	1:00 p.m.	Wisconsin	No. 5	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI		W 24–0	104,097
October 14	3:30 p.m.	at No. 21 Michigan State	No. 5	Spartan Stadium East Lansing, MI (Paul Bunyan Trophy)	ABC	W 10–7	76,913
October 21	3:30 p.m.	at Iowa	No. 5	Kinnick Stadium Iowa City, IA	ABC	W 26–12	67,700
October 28	12:00 p.m.	Indiana	No. 5	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI	ABC	W 38–10	105,989
November 4	1:00 p.m.	Purdue	No. 4	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI		W 42–27	105,128
November 11	3:30 p.m.	at No. 8 Illinois	No. 3	Memorial Stadium Champaign, Il	ABC	W 24–10	73,069
November 18	12:30 p.m.	at Minnesota	No. 3	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Minneapolis, MN (Little Brown Jug)	ESPN	W 49–15	35,103
November 25	12:00 p.m.	No. 20 Ohio State	No. 3	Michigan Stadium Ann Arbor, MI (rivalry)	ABC	W 28–18	106,137
January 1, 1990	4:45 p.m.	vs. No. 12 USC*	No. 3	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA (Rose Bowl)	ABC	L 10–17	103,450
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

Notre Dame

#1 Notre Dame at #2 Michigan

1 2 3 4 Total • Notre Dame 0 7 10 7 24 Michigan 0 6 0 13 19 Date: September 16 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game weather: Cloudy/light rain TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson & Bob Griese Source:

Scoring summary 2 ND A. Johnson 6-yard pass from Rice (Hentrich kick) ND 7-0 2 MICH Calloway 9-yard pass from Taylor (kick failed) ND 7-6 3 ND Ismail 88-yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) ND 14-6 3 ND Hentrich 30-yard field goal ND 17-6 4 MICH Walker 5-yard pass from Grbac (pass failed) ND 17-12 4 ND Ismail 92-yard kickoff return (Hentrich kick) ND 24-12 4 MICH McMurty 4-yard pass from Grbac (Carlson kick) ND 24-19

See also: 1989 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team and Michigan–Notre Dame football rivalry

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
10–7	1988	L 17–19

UCLA

See also: 1989 UCLA Bruins football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
5–2	1983	W 24–14

Maryland

Wisconsin

Michigan State

1 2 3 4 Total • Michigan 7 3 0 0 10 Michigan St 0 0 0 7 7 Date: October 14 Location: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI Source:

Scoring summary 1 MICH Hoard 1 yard run (Carlson kick) MICH 7-0 2 MICH Carlson 35 yard field goal MICH 10-0 4 MSU Hawkins 4 yard pass from Enos (Langeloh kick) MICH 10-7

Iowa

See also: 1989 Iowa Hawkeyes football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
29–7–4	1988	T 17–17

Indiana

Purdue

1 2 3 4 Total Purdue 0 7 0 20 27 • Michigan 7 21 7 7 42 Date: November 4 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 105,126

Scoring summary Q1 MICH Boles 39 yard run (Carlson kick) MICH 7–0 Q2 MICH Howard 8 yard pass from Taylor (Carlson kick) MICH 14–0 Q2 PUR Williams 44 yard pass from Hunter (Sullivan kick) MICH 14–7 Q2 MICH Boles 1 yard run (Carlson kick) MICH 21–7 Q2 MICH Calloway 29 yard pass from Grbac (Carlson kick) MICH 28–7 Q3 MICH Hoard 2 yard run (Carlson kick) MICH 35–7 Q4 PUR Oglesby 11 yard pass from Hunter (Sullivan kick) MICH 35–14 Q4 MICH Boles 85 yard kickoff return (Carlson kick) MICH 42–14 Q4 PUR Williams 3 yard pass from Hunter (Sullivan kick) MICH 42–21 Q4 PUR Williams 15 yard pass from Hunter (kick failed) MICH 42–27

[4]

Illinois

Minnesota

Ohio State

1 2 3 4 Total Ohio St 0 3 9 6 18 • Michigan 7 7 0 14 28 Date: November 25 Location: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MI Game attendance: 106,137

Scoring summary Q1 MICH Hoard 1 yard run (Carlson kick) MICH 7–0 Q2 MICH Jefferson 2 yard run (Carlson kick) MICH 14–0 Q2 OHST O'Morrow 20 yard field goal MICH 14–3 Q3 OHST O'Morrow 22 yard field goal MICH 14–6 Q3 OHST S. Graham 3 yard run (run failed) MICH 14–12 Q4 MICH Bunch 5 yard pass from Taylor (Carlson kick) MICH 21–12 Q4 7:04 OHST S. Graham 4 yard run (kick blocked) MICH 21–18 Q4 MICH Bunch 23 yard run (Carlson kick) MICH 28–18

Todd Plate's second interception of the day with 2:48 left in the game sealed the game and the Big Ten title for the Wolverines. [5]

Rose Bowl

1 2 3 4 Total • USC 0 10 0 7 17 Michigan 0 3 7 0 10 Location: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

Scoring summary Q2 USC Marinovich 1-yard run (Rodriguez kick) USC 7–0 Q2 6:28 MICH Carlson 19-yard field goal USC 7–3 Q2 USC Rodriguez 34-yard field goal USC 10–3 Q3 MICH Jeffereson 2-yard run (Carlson kick) Tied 10–10 Q4 USC Ervins 9 yard run (Rodriguez kick) USC 17–10

Main article: 1990 Rose Bowl

See also: 1989 USC Trojans football team

The 1990 Rose Bowl was a rematch of the previous Rose Bowl in which Michigan won 22 to 14. USC scored the first points in the second quarter with a one-yard run by Todd Marinovich. Michigan got a field goal to make it 7 to 3 but the Trojans added another field goal before the half to take a 10 to 3 lead at halftime. Although Michigan tied the score, Ricky Ervins had a fourteen-yard touchdown run which clinched the Rose Bowl for the Trojans.[6]

Player stats

Passing	AT	CMP	Pct.	YDS
Michael Taylor	122	74	.61	1081
Rushing	Yds	Att	Avg
Tony Boles	839	131	6.4
Receiving	Rec	Yds	Avg
Greg McMurtry	41	711	17.3

Players

Offense

• Derrick Alexander, wide receiver, freshman, Detroit, Michigan
• Tony Boles, running back, senior, Westland, Michigan - started 9 games at tailback
• Jarrod Bunch, running back, senior, Ashtabula, Ohio - started 5 games at fullback ;Bill Prichard fullback
• Alfie Burch, wide receiver, freshman, Warren, Ohio
• Chris Calloway, wide receiver, senior, Chicago, Illinois - started all 12 games at flanker
• Joe Cocozzo, offensive tackle, sophomore, Mechanicville, New York - started 2 games at right offensive guard
• Dave Diebolt, tight end, junior, Mayfield, Ohio
• Dean Dingman, offensive guard, junior, East Troy, Wisconsin - started 10 games at left offensive guard
• Robert Doherty, offensive line, sophomore, Sterling Heights, Michigan
• Tom Dohring, offensive tackle, senior, Dearborn, Michigan - started all 12 games at left offensive tackle
• Matt Elliott, center, junior, Carmel, Indiana - started 9 games at right offensive guard, 2 at left offensive guard
• Steve Everitt, offensive guard - center, sophomore, Miami, Florida
• Elvis Grbac, quarterback, sophomore, Willoughby Hills, Ohio - started 4 games at quarterback
• Leroy Hoard, fullback, senior, New Orleans, Louisiana - started 5 games at fullback, 3 games at tailback
• Desmond Howard, flanker, sophomore, Cleveland, Ohio
• Allen Jefferson, tailback, senior, Detroit, Michigan
• Dan Jokish, split end, junior, Clarkston, Michigan
• Dave Knight, wide receiver, senior, Riverview, Michigan
• Burnie Legette, running back, freshman, Colorado Springs, Colorado - started 2 games at fullback
• Tony McGee, tight end, freshman, Terre Haute, Indiana
• Greg McMurtry, split end, senior, Brockton, Massachusetts - started all 12 games at split end
• Marc Ramirez, center/guard, senior, Prairie View, Illinois - started 1 game at right offensive guard
• Doug Skene, offensive tackle, sophomore, Fairview, Texas
• Greg Skrepenak, offensive tackle, junior, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania - started all 12 games at right offensive tackle
• Ken Sollom, quarterback, junior, Canyon Country, California
• Michael Taylor, quarterback, senior, Lincoln Heights, Ohio - started 8 games at quarterback
• Yale Van Dyne, wide receiver, junior, Kearney, Missouri
• Jon Vaughn, tailback, sophomore, Florissant, Missouri
• Derrick Walker, tight end, senior, Glenwood, Illinois - started all 12 games at tight end
• Steve Zacharias, tight end, senior, Sterling Heights, Michigan

Defense

• Bobby Abrams, defensive back, senior, Detroit, Michigan - started all 12 games at outside linebacker
• Erick Anderson, outside linebacker, junior, Glenview, Illinois - started all 12 games at inside linebacker
• Chris Bohn, inside linebacker, junior, Traverse City, Michigan
• Corwin Brown, free safety, sophomore, Chicago, Illinois
• Dave Caputo, middle guard, junior, Chelsea, Michigan
• Doug Daugherty, offensive guard, senior, Romeo, Michigan
• Martin Davis, outside linebacker, sophomore, Chesapeake, Virginia
• Lance Dottin, defensive back, junior, Cambridge, Massachusetts - started 6 games at cornerback
• Mike Evans, defensive tackle, junior, Roxbury, Massachusetts - started 7 games at defensive tackle
• Chris Feaster, linebacker, senior, Flint, Michigan
• Rusty Fichtner, linebacker, junior, Meadville, Pennsylvania
• J. J. Grant, inside linebacker, senior, Liverpool, New York - started 9 games at inside linebacker
• Chris Hutchinson, defensive tackle, sophomore, Houston, Texas - started all 12 games at defensive tackle
• David Key, defensive back, senior, Columbus, Ohio - started all 12 games at cornerback
• Curt Mallory, inside linebacker, sophomore, Bloomington, Illinois
• Alex Marshall, outside linebacker, junior, Detroit, Michigan - started 11 games at outside linebacker - started 11 games at outside linebacker
• Matt McCoy, defensive tackle, senior, Ypsilanti, Michigan
• John Milligan, linebacker, senior, Trenton, Michigan - started 3 games at inside linebacker
• Vada Murray, free safety, senior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started all 12 games at free safety
• T. J. Osman, defensive tackle, senior, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Todd Plate, cornerback, senior, Brooklyn, Michigan - started 6 games at cornerback
• David Ritter, strong safety, junior, Hickory Hills, Illinois
• Cornelius Simpson, outside linebacker, junior, Highland Park, Michigan
• Scott Smykowski, inside linebacker, senior, Sterling Heights, Michigan
• Marc Spencer, linebacker, senior, Troy, Michigan
• Sylvester "Buster" Stanley, defensive tackle, freshman, Youngstown, Ohio
• Mike Teeter, middle guard, senior, Fruitport, Michigan - started all 12 games at middle guard
• Brian Townsend, linebacker, junior, Cincinnati, Ohio - started 1 game at outside linebacker
• Eric Traupe, inside linebacker, Ashland, Massachusetts
• Coleman Wallace, SC, sophomore, Willingboro, New Jersey
• Dwayne Ware, cornerback, sophomore, Willingboro, New Jersey
• Tripp Welborne, strong safety, junior, Greensboro, North Carolina - started all 12 games at strong safety
• Brent White, defensive tackle, senior, Dayton, Ohio - started 5 games at defensive tackle
• Timothy Williams, outside linebacker, senior, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Kickers

• J. D. Carlson, place-kicker, junior, Tallahassee, Florida
• Gulam Kahn, place-kicker, senior, Shaker Heights, Ohio
• Chris Stapleton, punter / place-kicker, freshman, Springfield, Illinois

Awards and honors

• All-Americans: Tripp Welborne
• All-Conference: Tony Boles, J.D. Carlson, Dean Dingman, Derrick Walker, Tripp Welborne
• Most Valuable Player: Tony Boles
• Meyer Morton Award: Chris Calloway
• John Maulbetsch Award: Steve Everitt
• Frederick Matthei Award: Dean Dingman
• Arthur Robinson Scholarship Award: Tim Williams
• Dick Katcher Award: Mike Teeter
• Hugh Rader Jr. Award: Derrick Walker
• Robert P. Ufer Award: Chris Calloway

Professional football

The following players were claimed in the 1990 NFL Draft.

Player	Position	Round	Pick	NFL Club
Leroy Hoard	Running Back	2	45	Cleveland Browns
Greg McMurtry	Wide Receiver	3	80	New England Patriots
Chris Calloway	Wide Receiver	4	97	Pittsburgh Steelers
Derrick Walker	Tight End	6	163	San Diego Chargers

[7]

A total of 25 players from the 1989 team went on to play professional football. They are Bobby Abrams (New York Giants 1990-91, Cleveland Browns 1992, New York Giants 1992, Dallas Cowboys 1992-93, Minnesota Vikings 1993-94, New England Patriots 1995), Derrick Alexander (Cleveland Browns 1994–95, Baltimore Ravens 1996–97, Kansas City Chiefs 1998–01, Minnesota Vikings 2002), Erick Anderson (Kansas City Chiefs 1992-93, Washington Redskins 1994-95), Tony Boles (Dallas Cowboys 1991; San Antonio Riders 1992), Jarrod Bunch (New York Giants 1991–93, Los Angeles Raiders 1994), Corwin Brown (New England Patriots 1993–96, New York Jets 1997–98, Detroit Lions 1999–00), Chris Calloway (Pittsburgh Steelers 1990-91, New York Giants 1992-98, Atlanta Falcons 1999, New England Patriots 2000), Joe Cocozzo (San Diego Chargers 1993-97), Tom Dohring (Kansas City Chiefs 1992), Matt Elliott (Washington Redskins 1992, Carolina Panthers 1995-97), Steve Everitt (Cleveland Browns 1993-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Philadelphia Eagles 1997-99), Elvis Grbac (San Francisco 49ers 1993-96, Kansas City Chiefs 1997-00, Baltimore Ravens 2001), Leroy Hoard (Cleveland Browns 1990-95, Baltimore Ravens 1996, Carolina Panthers 1996, Minnesota Vikings 1996-99), Desmond Howard (Washington Redskins 1992-94, Jacksonville Jaguars 1995, Green Bay Packers 1996, Oakland Raiders 1997-98, Green Bay Packers 1999, Detroit Lions 2000-02), Burnie Legette (New England Patriots 1993-94), Tony McGee (Cincinnati Bengals 1993-01, Dallas Cowboys 2002-03, New York Giants 2003), Greg McMurtry (New England Patriots 1990-93, Chicago Bears 1994), Doug Skene (New England Patriots 1994), Greg Skrepenak (Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders 1992-95, Carolina Panthers 1996-97), Buster Stanley (New England Patriots 1994, Rhein Fire 1996-97, Grand Rapids Rampage 1999-00), Mike Teeter (Indianapolis Colts 1990, Frankfurt Galaxy 1991, Minnesota Vikings 1991, Houston Oilers 1993–94, Carolina Panthers 1995), Brian Townsend (Cincinnati Bengals 1992), Jon Vaughn (New England Patriots 1991-92, Seattle Seahawks 1993-94, Kansas City Chiefs 1994), Derrick Walker (San Diego Chargers 1990-93, Kansas City Chiefs 1994-97, Oakland Raiders 1999), and Tripp Welborne (Minnesota Vikings 1992).

Coaching staff

• Head coach: Bo Schembechler
• Assistant coaches: Tirrel Burton, Cam Cameron, Lloyd Carr, Jerry Hanlon, Bill Harris, Jim Herrmann, Les Miles, Gary Moeller, Bobby Morrison, Tom Reed
• Trainer: Russ Miller
• Managers: Jeff Tack (senior manager), Chris Carr, Scott Hanel, Mark Jacobson, Tom Lewand, John Myers, Dave Schueler, Chris Smith, Jim Sullivan

References

1. "1989 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
2. "1989 Michigan Wolverines Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
3. "1989 Michigan Wolverines Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
4. Gainesville Sun. 1989 Nov 5.
5. "Michigan hoards the spotlight." Eugene Register-Guard. 1989 Nov 26.
6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2008-12-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
7. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/draft/1990.htm

External links

• 1989 Football Team – Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan Athletics History